Novovolynsk, the centre of the municipality of the same name in the Volyn oblast near the Polish border, is a dynamic town with around 58,000 inhabitants spread over eight settlements and an area of 75.4 km². The municipality's economy is diverse and includes the food, timber, light and chemical industries as well as a growing service sector.
As part of the energy transition, the municipality is focusing on ambitious targets for general electricity generation, the expansion of photovoltaic systems, climate-friendly heat supply and access to clean water. The first steps have been taken: photovoltaic systems have already been installed on some public buildings and many more projects are being planned to supply schools, kindergartens, important infrastructure and leisure complexes with sustainable energy in the future. The expansion of renewable energies and the strengthening of energy independence have become particularly important due to the current challenges.
In addition to increasing energy efficiency, Novovolynsk is also pushing ahead with the modernisation of older buildings and the expansion of combined heat and power generation. A "Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan" in accordance with EU guidelines points the way to a climate-friendly future. By participating in the "Energy Transition Partner City" project, Novovolynsk aims to gain valuable experience, attract investment and develop sustainable energy solutions together with international partners. "Novovolynsk is pleased to be part of the project and to have the opportunity to establish cooperation with other municipalities facing similar challenges in the field of energy transition," says Borys Karpus, Mayor of the city. "We are keen to share knowledge, experience and joint developments for a sustainable future."
Hoyerswerda is located in the heart of the Lusatian Lakeland, only around 60 kilometres north-east of the Saxon state capital Dresden. Once known as a centre of coal mining, Hoyerswerda has developed into a modern city with a historic centre since the 1960s. Today, around 30,000 people live here and are experiencing the German coal phase-out by 2038 at first hand.
The well-known "Schwarze Pumpe" power plant plays a central role in supplying heat to Hoyerswerda's Neustadt district and will continue to play an important role in the future. Versorgungsbetriebe Hoyerswerda GmbH (VBH) is already in the process of developing innovative, cross-municipal strategies for a modern heating network.
While the coal phase-out brings challenges such as the loss of jobs, the city also sees this as an opportunity for transformation.
Participation in the "Energy Transition Partner City" project will help Hoyerswerda to build an international network that promotes dialogue on technological innovations and dealing with social challenges. Lord Mayor Torsten Ruban-Zeh explains: "The city of Hoyerswerda welcomes its participation in the project. The exchange with other municipalities not only supports the goals of the transformation, but also strengthens the social discourse. Through the different perspectives, we can jointly develop solutions for similar challenges, learn from each other and potentially build long-term collaborations."
Berlin Governance Platform gGmbH
Aleksandra Kotur
Agency for Renewable Energies e. V.
Anika Schwalbe
North Rhine-Westphalia's capital Düsseldorf, with a population of around 650,000, has been twinned with the Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi since 2022. Together, the two cities would now like to further deepen this connection in the spirit of the energy transition. Düsseldorf has defined twelve key areas of action for sustainable urban development in 2022, which serve as guidelines for all climate and community development projects. The ambitious goal: climate neutrality by 2035.
The focus is on three key projects in particular: the installation of photovoltaic systems on suitable roofs of public buildings, the creation of a comprehensive heating plan and the reduction of the city's energy consumption. Düsseldorf is meeting the challenges of its dense population and high density of residential buildings with innovative solutions and a clear plan.
In the "Partner City Energy Transition" project, Düsseldorf is focussing on the exchange of knowledge and experience and is receiving valuable support from its partner city Chernivtsi, which is promoting cooperation with great commitment despite the difficult situation caused by the Russian attack on Ukraine. "Düsseldorf has set itself the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2035. The exchange with other municipalities can provide important insights here," explains Düsseldorf's Lord Mayor, Dr Stephan Keller. "We are also particularly keen to support our Ukrainian twin city of Chernivtsi. Due to the Russian war of aggression, there are power cuts throughout Ukraine. Against this backdrop, the issue of energy efficiency in particular is gaining enormous urgency."
In the south-west of Ukraine, at the foot of the picturesque Ukrainian Carpathians, lies the city of Chernivtsi in the municipality of the same name. The city has a population of around 270,000 and covers an area of 181 square kilometres. Its proximity to the eastern EU border opens up opportunities for European integration and cross-border cooperation in Chernivtsi.
Equipped with a particularly high potential for solar energy, Chernivtsi could use photovoltaic systems to generate electricity on a scale 30 times greater than the city's needs. In addition to solar energy, wind power and biogas also offer promising opportunities for the expansion of renewable energies.
Although the city is confronted with socio-economic challenges, nature conservation issues and the reduction of fossil fuels, it is determined to master these tasks. Particularly in view of the current situation, Chernivtsi is focusing on a resilient, decentralised energy supply in order to further strengthen the local infrastructure and quality of life.
Planned projects, such as the construction of solar and wind parks, are intended to promote the sustainable development of the city, facilitate adaptation to climate change and reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in the long term. "Participating in the third phase of the 'Energy Transition City Partnership' project with our German partner city Düsseldorf, which is funded by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, enables us to continue our cooperation in the field of energy transition and renewable energies," says Serhii Bostan, Director of the Office for Socio-Economic Development and Strategic Planning of the Chernivtsi City Council. "A particularly important topic for our municipality at the moment."
On the occasion of the project, Stuttgart and Bălți from the Republic of Moldova have entered into a new energy partnership. The state capital of Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart, has over 633,500 inhabitants and is characterised by its special topography in a basin location between wooded hills and the adjacent Neckar valley. Stuttgart is an important business centre, influenced by production and technology, and is one of the pioneering municipalities in Germany in areas such as climate protection and energy efficiency. For example, the implementation of municipal heat planning was already decided in December 2023, marking another major step towards a climate-friendly supply.
One of the challenges for Stuttgart in the energy transition is the lack of available space. In the expansion of renewable energies, the surrounding nature conservation areas and in particular the high density of urban centres are criteria that must be taken into account. In the area of mobility, car-centred urban planning and a high volume of traffic make it difficult to reduce motorised private transport and expand alternative forms of mobility. Communication, information and support are of central importance in Stuttgart in order to promote the energy transition and the associated new technologies among citizens.
The city recognises the essential role of cooperation and collaboration between cities and municipalities facing similar challenges in sustainable development. "A diverse network allows us to recognise other perspectives, broadens our horizons and makes us more resilient," says Andreas Neft, Head of Office, Office for Environmental Protection, City of Stuttgart. "Only together as a society can we move towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future."
The municipality of Bălți is the second largest administrative unit in the Republic of Moldova in terms of area and population and is a vibrant industrial, commercial, educational and cultural centre as well as a dynamic hub in the northern development region. With its 89,356 inhabitants (as of 2024),
which accounts for around 15 per cent of the region's population, Bălți plays a central role. The more than 400 public buildings consume around 35 per cent of the region's total energy demand of 200,000 tonnes of oil equivalent and thus contribute to around 10 per cent of Moldova's national energy consumption. In this context, Bălți is actively focussing on the development and implementation of energy efficiency measures.
The most important municipal tasks include reducing the environmental impact of industry and transport, modernising the city's infrastructure, promoting equal social opportunities and strengthening demographic development. In order to achieve these goals, the municipality has committed itself to implementing various political measures, programmes and action plans. The aim is to modernise municipal services, create new investment opportunities, promote economic competitiveness and further develop public spaces.
"We are looking forward to building transnational partnerships to benefit from the exchange of experience and best practices, explore innovative technologies in the field of energy efficiency and share our findings," says Dan Moraru, Head of External Relations and Investment at Bălți City Hall. The municipality already has extensive experience in cross-border projects and is looking forward to the collaboration with confidence.
The town of Goražde in the south-east of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the administrative, economic, cultural and political centre of the Bosnian Podrinje canton. The municipality of Goražde, which extends over 250 km² and has around 20,000 inhabitants in 145 settlements, is characterised by its landscape and rich history on the banks of the Drina - an area that has been inhabited since the Stone Age.
Formerly known for its strong industry and high standard of living, the region, which was badly affected by the war, has made great strides in reconstruction in recent years and is continuously attracting up-and-coming projects with new companies and investments. Through the "Energy Transition Twin City" project, the municipality of Goražde aims to gain valuable experience in the areas of energy efficiency and management and learn about innovative solutions.
The aim is to improve the quality of life of citizens, promote a sustainable energy supply and jointly explore ways to provide financial support for the future energy transition. Asima Džambegović, Goraždes Head of the Office for Local Economic Development: "We are looking forward to gaining new knowledge in the field of energy efficiency, sharing experiences with other cities facing similar challenges in the field of energy transition and finding opportunities that offer financial support in overcoming these challenges of the energy transition process."
The Hanseatic and university city of Greifswald in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with around 60,000 inhabitants, is idyllically situated at the mouth of the River Ryck and combines a densely populated city centre with surrounding forest and agricultural areas. The city is pursuing the ambitious goal of becoming CO₂-neutral by 2035. The buses in Greifswald already run entirely on biogas, and future-oriented research is already being carried out in projects to utilise green ammonia.
In the area of 
Greifswald is also leading the way in terms of climate-friendly heat supply: the municipal utility company already supplies 70 per cent of households with heat from solar thermal energy, natural gas and biogas. The aim is to cover all heating requirements from renewable energies in the future. The construction of Germany's largest solar thermal power plant directly in Greifswald was a major step in this direction. While 30 per cent of households are not yet connected to the heating grid and heat pumps are mainly used in new buildings, the city is actively working on adapting the electricity grid to meet the growing demand.
In the "Energy Transition Partner City" project, Greifswald attaches great importance to the international exchange of knowledge and emphasises the importance of cross-border cooperation in climate protection. Lord Mayor Dr Fassbinder is delighted: "Working together with Goražde on a climate-neutral future in Europe, learning from each other and establishing new friendly contacts is a great prospect."
